From SOIL to Nestle | Isha Thatai's Success Story | PGPM HR

Summary

ISA T, an alumnus of SOIL Institute of Management (PGPM HR batch 2017-2018), shares insights into their career journey, which currently includes a role in People Experience at Nestlé India. They highlight the importance of holistic development and values-based education at SOIL, which shaped their approach to HR. Their career spans roles in Learning & Development, Talent Management, and Employer Branding, with a focus on understanding employee needs and fostering a diverse, compassionate work culture. ISA emphasizes the significance of HR skills beyond just people management, including negotiation, business alignment, and finance understanding.

Takeaways

• 😀 Emphasis on holistic development: The speaker highlights how their experience at SOIL (School of Inspired Leadership) was focused on building inspired leaders, with a curriculum that supported both personal and professional growth.
• 😀 Social Innovation Program (SIP): The SIP gave the speaker the opportunity to work at the grassroots level, providing them with practical experience and a deep understanding of social impact.
• 😀 Importance of values-based education: The speaker appreciated SOIL’s approach to integrating values, particularly compassion and diversity, into the leadership development process.
• 😀 Diverse career journey: The speaker's career path includes roles in talent management, HR business partnering, and employee engagement across various organizations like Growers (now Blinkit), Loconav, and Times Internet before joining Nestlé.
• 😀 Transition to Nestlé: The speaker's move to Nestlé, an FMCG company, involved understanding new areas like demand supply, manufacturing, and R&D, which was different from their prior experiences in e-commerce and startups.
• 😀 Experiencing compassion: The speaker reflects on their time in Sardar, where they experienced compassion firsthand through grassroots work, which continues to influence their approach in HR today.
• 😀 Learning from diversity: Interacting with diverse cultures and people helped the speaker develop a broader perspective, which they apply in their current role at Nestlé.
• 😀 Key HR skills for success: The speaker advises HR professionals to focus on negotiation, stakeholder management, business case development, and understanding finance, as these are crucial skills that go beyond the traditional people function.
• 😀 The value of the PGPM HR program: The speaker praises the one-year program at SOIL for preparing them for success, through case studies, industry visits, leadership programs, and experiential learning that bridge the gap between campus and corporate life.
• 😀 The role of a People Experience Manager: A typical day involves listening to employee feedback through surveys and focus groups, then designing tailored programs and processes to meet their needs, aligning these efforts with business goals.
• 😀 Work-life balance in HR: The speaker highlights the importance of understanding employees' specific well-being needs, recognizing that solutions must be tailored to different personas and preferences, rather than adopting a one-size-fits-all approach.

Q & A

What is ISA T's current role and where does they work?

ISA T is currently working as a People Experience Manager within HR at Nestlé India.

What was the key factor that attracted ISA T to SOIL, Institute of Management?

ISA T was attracted to SOIL by its holistic, value-based curriculum and the Social Innovation Program (SIP), which allowed them to work at the grassroots level and align with their personal values.

What specific experiences did ISA T gain during their time at SOIL?

At SOIL, ISA T gained a deep understanding of leadership, holistic development, and social innovation. They worked in rural areas through SIP, which greatly shaped their values and career aspirations.

How did ISA T's career evolve after graduating from SOIL?

After SOIL, ISA T worked in various roles, including Learning and Development, Talent Management, HR Business Partnering, and Employer Branding at organizations like Growers (Blinkit), Loconav, and Times Internet.

What role did ISA T hold at Nestlé and what have they learned there?

ISA T works as a People Experience Manager at Nestlé India, where they are learning about diverse functions within a multinational FMCG company, including product design, supply chain, and research and development.

What values did ISA T find impactful during their career and at Nestlé?

ISA T was deeply impacted by the values of compassion and diversity, which they experienced both at SOIL and during their professional career, particularly during fieldwork at grassroots levels.

What practical HR skills does ISA T believe are important for success?

ISA T emphasizes the importance of skills such as negotiation, stakeholder management, understanding business cases, and gaining knowledge in finance, budgeting, and total rewards to be effective as an HR professional.

How does ISA T describe a typical day in their role as a People Experience Manager?

A typical day involves employee listening activities, such as surveys and focus group discussions, followed by designing and redesigning HR processes and programs that center around employee needs and business impact.

What advice does ISA T give to aspiring HR professionals?

ISA T advises aspiring HR professionals to not only focus on people management but also develop skills in negotiation, business acumen, and finance to contribute more effectively to the organization.

How does ISA T approach work-life balance and employee well-being?

ISA T approaches work-life balance by recognizing that employee needs vary and tailoring solutions based on different personas, such as offering flexibility or specific well-being programs to meet individual requirements.